A station on the Hamilton Road, about 18 miles from Eureka, hence the name. By the time the Lincoln Highway become popular, Eighteen Mile Station had been bypassed for a new route and never regained its popularity or usefulness. While it's unknown [to us, anyway] when the station was established, we can surmise it existed in the early 1880s, was run by Mr. Joe Savery from about 1896 to his death in 1904, and may have continued on for a short time after that.
AN early newspaper story attests to the road conditions one might find on the Hamilton road during inclement weather.
Some heavy freshets [the flood of a river from heavy rain or melted snow. - FN] are reported to have occurred on the road to Hamilton within the past two days. One at the 18-Mile House cut up the road badly and did some other damage.
-Eureka Daily Sentinel, August 31, 1883
Don't know if Lou Leith just worked here, owned it, or ran it, but he's ordering stuff!
R. Sadler dispatched a freighting outfit to Taylor and way places this morning with 30,000 pounds of freight. consigned to Lou Leith, Eighteen-Mile House; Sam Burns, Six-Mile House; Sol Hilp, Argus Mining Company. J. F. Cupid, Thos. Cornell, John Ragsdale and R. A. Riepe, Taylor, and John Attery, White River.
-Eureka Daily Sentinel, July 23, 1887
By this time, Mr. Savery owns and runs the Eighteen Mile House. Bet he never thought he'd be taking on thoughtless deer.
A DEAR DEER
His Appetite Was Like Unto That of a Billy Goat.
Not so very long ago Wallace Knight became the proud possessor of a fawn a mild-eyed, gentle creature— which won the admiration of all beholders, and it soon became general favorite not only on Spring street but wherever its fancy propelled it. Time passed and the gentle fawn grew in stature and also in assurance. At first it was content to nibble grass, and accepted with gratitude such succulent herbs as were offered it, but lately it has cultivated a fondness for shrubbery, and many dooryards now bear silent testimony to this lamentable failing. Not satisfied with this the animal developed an insatiable appetite for lace curtains, and certain gauzy articles of feminine wearing apparel, which, however blame-worthy it may have been, certainly proved his deership had an artistic taste, and was possessed of an innate love for the beautiful.
Notwithstanding his failing«, the deer had made hosts of friends in Eureka, and it was with regret that many of these people presented their grievances to the Knight household; but finally it was done and a very strong case was made out against the offender. It was decided that the temptations of city life had proven too strong for the nimble representative of the forest, and that it was useless to hope that he would ever reach that civilized state where he could behold and admire, and still not fall prey to a depraved appetite.
Accordingly on Wednesday, with the aid of five strong men, the animal was loaded onto wagon and conveyed to Joe Savery's Eighteen-mile house, there to do penance for his past offenses, and where in time it is hoped he will forget the taste of laces and ruffles and such like dainties.
-Eureka Sentinel, May 12, 1900
Possibly picking up Purina Deer Chow.
Joe Savery, proprietor of the Eighteen Mile House Station on the Hamilton road, was in Eureka This week for a load of supplies.
-Eureka Sentinel, June 23, 1900
Joe's digging more wells to make sure the sheep have something to drink.
TO SOLVE WATER PROBLEM.
Joe Savery Intends Sinking a Large Well.
Joe Savery, who keeps the Eighteen-Mile Station on the road to Hamilton, spent several days in Eureka this week. He is making arrangements to sink a large well at his place in order that he may be prepared to water large bands of sheep in dry seasons like this, and estimates that he has lost between $400 and $500 this season by not having water sufficient to supply the demand. For many miles in all directions from his place there are large tracts of grazing lands on which there is an abundance of white sage, and Mr. Savory reasons that with a known water supply at the Eighteen-Mile House the sheepmen would keep their flocks in that vicinity, and that the revenue derived from the supply of water from the wells which he proposes to put in would amount to a considerable figure. He now has one well on his place that is seventy-six feet in depth, and this he finds supplies a sufficient amount of water for the teams that stop there. At the present time there are flocks of sheep numbering fully 70,000 being held on Fish Creek, a few miles west of Mr. Savery's place, awaiting a snowfall on the ranges to the south, and until that snow comes it will be impossible for the sheepmen to venture in that direction. In the meantime the supply of feed has been practically exhausted along Fish Creek, and if Mr. Savory was prepared to furnish water in sufficient quantities the supply of feed in his vicinity is great enough to maintain all these flocks fer weeks.
-Eureka Sentinel. December 22, 1900
Running Eighteen Mile House wasn't easy, and Joe wasn't feeling well.
Joe Savery of the 18-Mile House was an arrival in Eureka Thursday. He has an attack of rheumatism and is contemplating a trip to a milder climate.
-Eureka Sentinel, February 21, 1903
Will Gavin was called by Joseph Savery to the Eighteen Mile House, on the Hamilton road this week, to do some plumbing and repair work.
-Eureka Sentinel, June 20, 1903
Joe Savery, of the Eighteen Mile House, was stricken with paralysis on Wednesday night last, his right side being affected. Dr. Gordon was called in attendance and advised that the patient e brought to Eureka for treatment as soon as he could be moved. Mr. Savery has been in poor health for months and his present condition is critical.
-Eureka Sentinel, September 12, 1903
Don't know if this is the place I'd pick to spend the winter, but OK.
HAMILTON NOTES
Mr. Schaefer and family have moved to the Eighteen Mile House to spend the winter.
-White Pine News, December 3, 1903
The Eureka and Ely Stage Company used Eighteen Mile House, and some others probably did as well. Poor Mr. Hash.
DEATH OF WILLIAM HASH.
An accident with fatal results occurred to William Hash at the Eighteen Mile House on the Hamilton road, April 6. Mr. Hash was in the employ of the Eureka & Ely Stage Company and cared for the stage stock at that station. While standing on a box to place a lantern in the barn, the box turned and he was thrown to the ground, striking his chest on an edge of the box. He did not think his injuries serious and insisting his bruises and soreness would disappear in a few days, he continued at his work. He grew worse from day to day and last Sunday he was brought to Eureka on a bed that was placed for him in the stage. Dr. Burnett was called to attend him and found two ribs fractured and internal injuries. His condition was pronounced critical, and he succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday night, April 12. The Stage Company took charge of the remains, and the funeral was held Wednesday afternoon from Hjul's undertaking room. Mr. Hash was a native of Illinois, and 72 years of age. He had resided in and around Eureka for about thirty years, engaged in various occupations. He is not known to have any relatives.
-Eureka Sentinel, April 16, 1904
They saved the barn at least.
FIRE AT EIGHTEEN MILE HOUSE
A fire broke out in the corral at Joe Savery's place, known as Eighteen Mile House, on the Hamilton road, on Wednesday afternoon about 1 o'clock. The corral, fourteen bales of hay and a dead-ax wagon were destroyed, but the firefighters succeeded in saving the barn. The cause of the fire is unknown, but it is thought to have originated from a spark in the house chimney.
-Eureka Sentinel, April 30, 1904
Mr. Savery passes away.
DEATH OF JOSEPH SAVERY.
Joseph Savery, who for 30 years resided in this vicinity, died at his home a at the Eighteen Mile House, on October 2, 1904. He was a native of England, aged 65 years. Mr. Savery resided in Newark Valley, White Pine County, for years engaged in ranching, and eight years ago he removed to the Eighteen Mile House, 18 miles south of Eureka on the Hamilton road, which he conducted as a road station. He had been in ill heath a long time, and for three years general debility had been hastening the end. He is not known to have any relatives, but was a man with many friends, always genial and popular. The remains were brought to Eureka early Monday morning and the funeral took place Tuesday.
-Eureka Sentinel, October 8, 1904
Not too many mentions of Eighteen Mile House after this, except as a general location.
GATHERING RANGE HORSES.
Paul Lane and Tom Dixon Have a Large Crew of Riders Out.
Paul G. Lane of Pine Valley, Eureka County, was in Eureka Thursday with nine riders and about 50 saddle horses, to round up the "Little Louie" horses in White Pine County. Mr. Lane bought these horses last Winter and began to gather them in the early spring, but the work had to be discontinued on account of the storms and heavy snows. Tom Dixon of Eureka joined the party with five riders and a number of saddle horses at Maryland Wells on Friday, and both crews will rodeo the Fish Creek and Pancake ranges, south and east of Eureka. Mr. Lane and Mr. Dixon have made arrangements to make the Eighteen Mile House on the Hamilton road their headquarters, and the horses will be driven to corrals at that place, when each will separate out and take horses belonging to him.
-Eureka Sentinel, September 10, 1904
There is a corral and what appear to be some structures still here.